signal for retreat, with the loss of five Spaniards and more than
thirty of their Indian allies, whom the pirate's soldiers killed,
besides some others that had been wounded. Upon the following day,
the master-of-camp arrayed all his forces in line of battle, and set
out for the fort with the intention of giving battle if he could find
an opportunity. Arriving there, he established his camp at a distance
of less than two hundred paces from it, but he found that during that
night the pirate had fortified himself strongly, and in such wise
that it was considered dangerous to attack the fort; in it had been
mounted three large pieces of artillery, and many small culverins,
besides other contrivances for discharging fire. Upon observing this,
the master-of-camp--recognizing that his artillery consisted only of
small pieces and was insufficient for assaulting the fort; and that
the supply of ammunition was inadequate, because it had been spent
in defending themselves against the assaults made by the pirate on
Manila--in accordance with the advice of his captains, determined that
(since the enemy had no vessels, by which he might escape by water,
nor any resources or material with which to build them, and very little
food, because the latter had been burned with the vessels) it would be
better and conduce more to his own safety to besiege the fort and to
settle down there until hunger should wear out the enemy, in order
that they might thus be forced to surrender, or capitulate under
certain conditions. Notwithstanding the nature of these conditions,
the enemy would consider them better than death by hunger. This
resolve seemed good to all of them, although quite the contrary of
their expectation happened; for during the blockade by land and water,
which lasted for three months, the pirate was so clever, and planned
so well, that he made some boats inside the fort, trimming them in
the best manner possible. In these he and his men escaped one night,
as will be told--a thing that seemed impossible and caused great